Omar Enrique Vizquel Bio Info

Married with two children... Father, Omar Sr., played semi-pro ball in Venezuela... Co-authored "Omar! My Life on and off the Field", which was published in May 2003 ... His rendition of the Goo Goo Dolls song "Broadway" was featured on the 2005 CD "Oh Say, Can You Sing" ... Attended Francisco Espejo High School in Caracas, Venezuela.2011Completed his second season with the White Sox and 23rd of his Major League career, hitting .251 (42-167) with seven doubles and eight RBI in 58 games... Set career lows in hits, RBI, runs scored and games played... SETTING NEW RECORDS: Recorded a sacrifice hit and stolen base in his 23rd straight season, the second and third-longest streaks in baseball history, respectively... Trails only Ty Cobb (24) in consecutive seasons with a sac hit, and Rickey Henderson (25) and TY Cobb (24) for stolen bases... ALL-TIMER: Moved from 47th to 45th on the all-time hit list, passing Hall of Famers George Sisler (2,812; May 15 at Oakland) and Charlie Gehringer (2,839; 9/21 at Cleveland)... Went from T-15th to 13th in games played, passing Craig Biggio (2,850, April 3 at Cleveland), Robin Yount (2,856; April 24 at Detroit) and Brooks Robinson (2,896; on Aug. 3 vs. New York-AL)... Made 42 starts (Sox went 23-19), including 29 appearances at third base (20 starts), 16 at second (14), nine at shortstop (8) and one at first... Combined to post a .992 (1 E/133 TC) fielding percentage (1.000 at both third base and shortstop)... Appeared in 40 games in the first half (.269; 32-119) compared to 18 games after the All-Star Break (.208; 10-48)... Batted .259 (38-147) vs. right-handers and .200 (4-20) vs. lefties... Was 0-14 with runners in scoring position and two outs... Was 8-20 (.400) against Cleveland... STILL PICKIN' IT: Became the second-oldest player (44 years and 24 days) to appear at shortstop in a Major League game on May 18 vs. Cleveland... Only St. Louis' Bobby Wallace (44 years and 295 days) was older when he appeared at short on Aug. 26, 1918... Made his first career appearance at first base on May 28 at Toronto... Also moved past Lou Brock (10,332) on the all-time at-bat list... Became the oldest player in White Sox history to triple on June 7 vs. Seattle.2010Batted .276 (95-344) with 11 doubles, two home runs and 30 RBI in 108 games in his first season with the White Sox ... his .276 average
and .341 on-base percentage were his best since 2006 (.295/.361) and his 108 games played were his most since 2007 (145) ... made 89 starts (Sox
went 50-39): 62 at third base, 19 at second, eight and shortstop and one at
designated hitter (first career) ... made 77 of his starts (60 at third) following
Mark Teahen's injury on 5/30 and hit .286 (84-294) with 26 RBI ... combined
to post a .987 (3 E/234 TC) fielding percentage, including a 1.000 mark at
both second (63 TC) and short (28) and .979 (3 E/144 TC) at third ... led
off twice (1-1) and batted second 74 times (45-29) ... hit .290 (83-286) vs.
right-handers and .207 (12-58) vs. lefties ... moved from 61st to 47th on the
all-time hit list ... hit .312 (54-173) vs. American League Central opponents
(.240 against rest of baseball) ... made his debut on 4/9 vs. Minnesota at
age 42, becoming the oldest player to appear in a game with the White Sox
since Carlton Fisk on 6/22/93 vs. Texas (45) ... made his first appearance
at shortstop on 4/12 at Toronto, extending his major-league record of playing
at least one game at that position to 22 different seasons ... started at
short on 5/1 at New York-AL at age 43, becoming the oldest major-league
player to appear at the position since the White Sox Luke Appling in 1950
(also 43) ... started at designated hitter for the first time in his career on
5/14 at Kansas City ... became one of four players to steal a base in four
decades (also Ted Williams, Ricky Henderson and Tim Raines) on 6/1 vs.
Texas ... hit a solo home run on 6/10 vs. Detroit (9,999th career at-bat),
becoming the first player to hit a home run at age 43 or older since Barry
Bonds final career home run in 2007 ... registered his 10,000th at-bat later
in the game, one of 24 players in baseball history to reach that milestone
... joined Carlton Fisk as the only other White Sox player to hit a home run
at 43 or older ... collected his 2,675th hit as a shortstop on 6/30 at Kansas
City (triple off Zack Greinke), moving past Luis Aparicio into second place
all-time ... error on 7/7 vs. the Angels ended a career-best 111-game errorless
streak ... the streak was the longest by an infielder (2B/SS/3B) since
Tadahito Iguchi went 126 games from 6/15/07-8/3/08 ... also committed an
error on 7/8, the first time he made a miscue in back-to-back games since
5/5-6/07 ... drew his 1,000th career walk on 8/5 at Detroit ... became the
all-time leader in games played by a foreign-born player on 9/6 at Detroit,
passing Rafael Palmeiro (2,831) ... stole his 400th career base on 10/2 vs.
Cleveland ... signed a one-year contract with the Sox on 11/2.2009Appeared in a career-low 62 games with Texas in his 21st majorleague season ... played in 27 games at shortstop (22 starts), 20 at third
base (nine) and 16 at second (14) ... the 20 games at third base were his first-ever appearance at the position ... became the first player in baseball
history to appear at shortstop in 21 different major-league seasons and the third to play short at age 42 or older,
joining Honus Wagner (1916-17) and Luke Appling (1949-50) ... finished the season with 2,672 hits as a shortstop,
one behind Luis Aparicio for second-most all-time ... did not commit an error in 207 total chances, the most errorless
chances in the majors for an infielder (excluding first base) ... was a non-roster invitee to spring training
... made first-ever appearance at third base on 4/17 vs. Kansas City and first start ever outside of shortstop on
5/9 at the White Sox (2,568 consecutive games) ... became the oldest player in Rangers history when he turned
42 on 4/24 ... passed Aparicio for first place on the all-time Venezuelan hit list with a first-inning single on 6/25
at Arizona ... went 4-6 with a home run and three RBI on 8/7 vs. Angels, becoming the third player in history to
collect four hits (including a homer) after turning 42, joining Cleveland's Sam Rice (44) on 6/15/34 and the White
Sox Carlton Fisk (42) on 7/3/90.2008Hit .222 (59-266) with 23 RBI in 92 games in his fourth season with San Francisco ... posted a .993
(2 E/289 TC) fielding percentage in 84 games at shortstop, best mark among all shortstops in baseball (min. 50 games) ... underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee to repair a torn meniscus on 2/22 and missed the
majority of spring training ... played in five rehabilitation contests between Class A San Jose and Class AAA
Fresno before being activated on 5/10 ... passed Tim Raines for seventh place on the all-time hits list for switchhitters
with his 2,606th hit on 5/15 vs. Houston ... established a major-league record for games at shortstop with
his 2,584th appearance on 5/25-2 at Florida, passing Aparicio ... was walked intentionally in first three plate
appearances on 5/30 vs. San Diego ... had a straight steal of home on 6/13 vs. Oakland, the first Giants player
to accomplish the feat since Max Venable on 4/14/83 at San Diego.2007Again provided amazing defense, ranking 2nd among all ML shortstops with .9862 fielding pct. (9 errors, 651 chances)...finished just slightly behind COL's Troy Tulowitzki (.9868 - 11 errors, 834 chances)...committed fewest errors by any big league shortstop with at least 120 games at position...celebrated his 40th birthday April 24 in LA, becoming just 17th player (since
1901) at 40 years of age to play game at shortstop in majors...played his 2,500th game at shortstop
July 3 at Cincinnati...moved into sole possession of 2nd place on all-time list of games played by
shortstop with his 2,512nd contest at position July 21 in Milwaukee...surpassed Ozzie Smith (2,511
games)...became baseball's all-time leader with his 1,591st doubleplay turned at shortstop with 7th
inning twin-killing May 13 in Colorado, also passing Smith (1,590)...slipped offensively, as .246
batting avg. was his lowest since 2003 (.244 with Cleveland)...however, was .264 hitter (76-for-288)
over his final 83 games (beginning June 17)...hammered 3-run HR off Reds' Mike Stanton Sept. 21 at
AT&T Park, his 1st clout batting right-handed since June 15, 2005 (at Minnesota, off J.C. Romero)...
returned to homeland to play in Venezuelan Winter League, logging 16 contests for Caracas.2006Dazzling shortstop continued to amaze, capturing Gold Glove Award with stellar defense while ranking among league's offensive leaders at position...was honored as 2006 Willie Mac Award winner, honor voted upon by teammates, coaches, trainers and fans as club's most inspirational player...led all ML shortstops with Giants' franchise record .993 fielding pct. (4 errors, 599 total chances), 6th-best total by SS in baseball history...logged 53-game errorless streak April 23-June 23, and 63-outing string July 5-Sept. 18...also excelled with bat, ranking 3rd among NL shortstops with .296 avg. at position (171-for-577) and 2nd with .362 on-base mark...hit safely in team-high 104 of his 153 games, while logging 3rd-highest batting avg. of career (.295 overall mark)...tied for 7th in NL with career-high 10 3Bs, which also tied for 6th-most in SF history...tied for 12th in NL with club-high 51 multi-hit games...excellent clutch hitter batted .313 (35-for-112) with RISP, including .359 mark (23-for-64) with RISP and 2 outs...hammered leadoff homer April 22 in Colorado, going deep off Aaron Cook...was just 2nd leadoff blast of career, with 1st coming July 10, 1993 vs. Cleveland (with Seattle)...passed Cal Ripken, Jr. for 3rd on all-time list for games played by shortstop with his 2,303rd contest at position May 6 at Philadelphia...connected for 2-run HR (off Braden Looper) May 22 vs. St. Louis, his 1st career clout in SF...prior to longball, had most at-bats by player without homer at AT&T Park (345 at-bats)...stole 350th career base June 21 vs. Angels.2005One of baseball's greatest shortstops was nothing less than spectacular during 1st season with Giants, providing breathtaking defense and consistent offense...established Giants single-season franchise record for shortstop, and led all Major Leaguers at position, by posting .98802 mark (8 errors, 668 total chances)...Chris Speier held previous Giants mark, logging .982 mark in 1975 (12 errors, 679 total chances)...played flawless defense in 113 of his last 118 contests, including 60-game errorless string May 11-July 26...played in 152 games, his highest total since logging 155 contests in 2001 with Cleveland...started 144 games, playing all but 2 innings in those opening assignments (hitting safely in 103 starts)...led SF with 154 hits...many of those hits were of clutch variety, as he paced Giants and matched CHI's Derrek Lee for 9th in NL by batting .331 (41-for-124) with RISP...ranked 9th in NL with 24 stolen bases (in 34 attempts), most by SF player since Marvin Benard swiped 27 in 1999...became 1st Giant to finish in top 10 for steals since Barry Bonds finished 5th in 1998 with 28 thefts...tied SF record with 3 stolen bases July 25 at Chicago, marking 28th time it's been accomplished since club moved west in 1958...was 1st occurrence since Stan Javier did it Aug. 1, 1997 at Cincinnati...finished year with 23 hits in his last 74 right-handed at-bats (.311), after opening year 14-for-72 (.194) off left-handed pitching...tied for 2nd on club with 37 multi-hit contests, including 5-hit effort June 16 at Minnesota...belted tie-breaking, 3-run HR in 7th inning July 14 at Los Angeles (off D.J. Houlton), as SF won 4-3 for 10,000th victory in franchise history.2004Rebounded from injury-plagued 2003 campaign to hit .291 with 59 RBI and 19 stolen bases in 148 games for Cleveland...overcame shaky start defensively to rank 3rd among AL shortstops with .982 fielding pct. (11 errors, 607 total chances)...committed 7 errors over his 1st 29 games, but had just 4 miscues over his last 119 contests...was charged with just 1 error over his last 81 outings, as after making 11th miscue July 25 vs. Kansas City, was errorless over his final 55 games...batting avg. was highest since career-best .333 mark in 1999, while 165 hits and 19 stolen bases were most since 2000 (176 hits and 22 thefts)...led AL in sacrifice hits for 3rd time with career-high 20...was 5th-toughest AL hitter to strikeout, fanning once for every 10.4 plate appearances...became 15th shortstop in ML history to appear in 2,000 career games at position May 1 vs. Baltimore)...collected 2,000th career hit April 22 vs. Kansas City (off Jason Grimsley)...became 1st Indian since Ken Keltner in 1948 to collect 1,500 hits with club, posting 1,500th hit in Cleveland uniform May 25 vs. Seattle...enjoyed career night in Cleveland's 22-0 rout at Yankee Stadium Aug. 31, going career-best 6-for-7 with 3 runs, 2 2Bs and 4 RBI to match AL record for most hits in 9-inning game...was 1st Indian since Jorge Orta in 1980 to collect 6 hits in 9-inning contest, and was most by Cleveland player since Carlos Baerga rapped out 6 safeties in 1992 (19 innings).2003Suffered through most injury-riddled season of career, spending 2 stints on Disabled List and undergoing pair of surgeries on right knee...64 games played was his lowest total in non-strike shortened season...became 1st Indians shortstop to start 10 straight Opening Days since Lou Boudreau when he took field March 31 at Baltimore...injured his right knee sliding into home June 6 at Arizona, with June 11 MRI exam revealing torn meniscus in joint...was placed on 15-day Disabled List June 12 and underwent arthroscopic surgery...rehabbed injury in Cleveland before suffering additional tear in meniscus during 1st week of July...originally determined that rest was necessary, was shut down before 4-game rehab assignment with single-A Lake County Aug. 21-24...was activated from DL Aug. 26...appeared in 5 games, going 2-for-19 (.105) before being shut down for season Sept. 2 after continued pain in right knee...underwent 2nd surgery Sept. 5...team physician Dr. Louis Keppler performed both surgeries.2002Established career highs with 14 HRs and 72 RBI during 3rd career All-Star campaign...homer total marked highest by Tribe shortstop since Woodie Held hit 19 in 1962...earned AL co-Player of Week honors for April 29-May 5, capping fortnight with 2nd career 5-hit game May 5 vs. Texas...posted 2nd career multi-homer game June 8 vs. Mets...was lone Indian representative at All-Star Game, where he delivered 8th-inning triple off Robb Nen that knotted contest 7-7...posted career-best 18-game hitting streak July 14-Aug. 1...led Indians and ranked 4th in AL with 10 sacrifice flies...had 9-year run of AL Gold Glove awards snapped by TEX's Alex Rodriguez, despite making fewer errors (7 to 10) and posting higher fielding pct. (.990 to .987) than Rangers shortstop...ranked 2nd among junior circuit shortstops for fielding pct., but handled 107 more chances then leader Mike Bordick.2001Produced another outstanding defensive campaign, winning 9th consecutive Gold Glove award...logged 54-game errorless streak June 5-Aug. 4, and led AL shortstops with .989 fielding mark (7 errors in 640 total chances)...hit just .237 after All-Star Break, including .176 mark (16-for-91) over his final 25 games...bat awoke during playoffs, as he hit .409 (9-for-22) with double, triple and team-best 6 RBI during 5-game ALDS loss to Seattle...drove in 6 runs during Tribe's 17-5 victory in Game 3, going 4-for-6 while falling homer shy of cycle.2000Recorded one of finest defensive seasons in baseball history while posting solid offensive campaign...hit .287, surpassed 100 runs scored mark for 2nd straight year and equaled then-career high with 66 RBI...tied then-American League record for most consecutive errorless games by shortstop with 95, spanning Sept. 26, 1999-July 21, 2000...matched Cal Ripken, Jr's 1990 streak...record came to end on Matt Lawton's 5th-inning grounder July 22 at Minnesota...captured 8th consecutive Gold Glove Award after leading all Major League shortstops with .995 fielding pct. (3 errors, 648 total chances), 3rd best mark in big league history...belted 4th career grand slam April 7 at Tampa Bay (off Juan Guzman)...enjoyed 1st career multi-homer game, going deep twice June 8 at Cincinnati...ranked 5th in AL with 139 singles and 10th with 613 at-bats...stole 22 bases, and ranked 2nd in AL with 7 thefts of 3rd base...played in Japan for ML All-Star Team following season.1999Defensive wizard won 7th consecutive Gold Glove Award, but saw glovework perhaps overshadowed by career year offensively...set career highs in batting avg. (.333), runs (112) and hits (191), while matching career standard with 36 doubles...also had 66 RBI, then high-water mark for career...ranked 2nd in AL with 42 steals, while being caught just 9 times (82.4% success rate)...ranked 6th in AL for avg., 8th for hits and 3rd for singles (146)...was also 4th-hardest hitter in junior circuit to strike out (once every 13.3 plate appearances)...batted .333 from both sides of plate, with mark off righties being 8th best mark in loop...efforts earned him All-Star accolades and 8th place vote in AL MVP voting (3 points for 16th place finish)...was bothered by sore right quadriceps muscle for most of season's 1st 2 months, contributing to his highest error total (15) since 1996 (career-high 20)...stole career-high 4 bases May 17 at White Sox...hammered 3rd career grand slam May 23 vs. Detroit, 9th-inning clout off Todd Jones that erased 4-3 deficit and gave Indians 7-4 win...also hit 2-run, walk-off homer July 10 vs. Cincinnati (off Scott Williamson)...made professional debut in right field Aug. 31 vs. Anaheim, situation necessitated after David Justice was ejected for charging mound and Tribe was left short of outfielders...went 5-for-21 (.238) with 3 runs, 2B, 3B and 3 RBI in 5-game ALDS loss to Boston.1998Led all Major League shortstops with .993 fielding pct. (5 errors in 720 total chances), 2nd-highest mark in ML history...was honored with 6th-straight Gold Glove award...had errorless streaks of 70 games and 54 games during season, while ending campaign with 39-contest streak...was selected by AL manager Mike Hargrove as reserve to his 1st All-Star team, going 1-for-2 during Mid-Summer Classic in Denver...marked 1st time Tribe shortstop was All-Star since Lou Boudreau in 1948...batted .288, while tying for 8th in AL with 37 steals (in 49 attempts)...clubbed 1st HR of year Sept. 5 at Detroit (off Sean Runyan), his first clout since Sept. 15, 1997 (span of 524 at-bats, longest stretch in majors at time)...was suspended for 2 games by AL President Gene Budig for attempting to charge White Sox' Jim Parque Sept. 13 in Cleveland...hit combined .300 (12-for-40) in 10 postseason games...set ALCS single-season record for shortstops with 24 assists, breaking mark of 23 set by CAL's Dick Schofield in 1986...his 36 total chances matched Schofield's 1986 ALCS mark.1997Swiped career-high 43 bases, 5th-highest total in AL...was caught 12 times, with 78.2% success rate ranking 8th in league...became just 2nd Indians infielder in history to steal 40-or-more bases in single season, as shortstop Ray Chapman swiped 52 bases in 1917...won his 5th straight Gold Glove award after ranking 3rd in AL with .985 fielding pct. (10 errors in 683 total chances)...led AL with 16 sacrifice bunts and tied for 10th with 6 triples...collected his 1,000th career hit July 18 vs. Boston (off Tim Wakefield)...hit .233 (17-for-33) over 18 postseason games for American League Champion Indians...was perfect 9-for-9 in steal attempts.1996Persevered through right shoulder soreness that required off-season surgery to win 4th straight Gold Glove award...however, committed career-high 20 errors (in 693 total chances), while his .971 fielding pct. was his lowest since his rookie year...ranked 5th in AL with 35 stolen bases (in 44 attempts)...was breakout offensive season, as he established-then career highs in nearly every category...hit .297 with 98 runs, 36 2Bs, 3B, 9 HRs and 64 RBI...equaled career high with 6 RBI June 18 vs. Boston, effort highlighted by 2nd career grand slam (off Aaron Sele)...underwent right shoulder surgery Oct. 11 in Birmingham, AL...Dr. James Andrews repaired and smoothed tear in labrum and removed small bone spur from socket.1995Won 3rd consecutive Gold Glove award while helping Indians to 1st World Series appearance since 1954...compiled 47-game errorless streak June 12-Aug. 4, while tying for 3rd among AL shortstops with .986 fielding mark (9 errors, 624 total chances)...hit .266 with 6 HRs, 56 RBI and 29 steals (in 40 attempts)...paced Cleveland and ranked 5th in AL with 10 sacrifice hits and 10 sacrifice flies...was 2nd hardest player in AL to double up, grounding into just 4 double plays all season (once per every 135.5 at-bats)...was just 8-for-58 (.138) in 15 playoff games, although he did post 6 RBI and was perfect 5-for-5 in stolen bases.1994Became 1st Indians shortstop to win Gold Glove award, earning his 2nd consecutive honor following inaugural season in Cleveland...along with outfielder Kenny Lofton, marked 1st time Tribe had multiple Gold Glove winners in same season since 1961...logged .982 fielding pct. 3rd-best among AL shortstops...committed career-high 3 errors April 16 vs. Kansas City, but then went next 51 games without miscue (until Aug. 3)...collected 1st stolen base in Jacobs Field history with swipe April 7 vs. Seattle...was taken out at 2nd base by Ivan Rodriguez April 22 vs. Texas, resulting in slight tear in MCL in right knee...was on DL April 24-June 13...batted .369 (31-for-84) with RISP, 6th-highest mark in AL.1993Captured 1st Gold Glove award in final season with Mariners...tied for AL lead with 108 double plays, while ranking 3rd with .980 fielding pct....was tied for 7th in league with 158 games, most ever by Seattle shortstop...did not play Aug. 18 at Baltimore, snapping string of 214 consecutive games...belted 1st career grand slam April 13 at SkyDome, going deep off Toronto's Danny Cox...marked 1st homer in 626 at-bats and 2nd in 1,138 at-bats...recorded final assist of Chris Bosio's no-hitter Aug. 22 vs. Boston, making a barehanded grab of an Ernest Riles chopper and firing to 1st for 27th out.1992Led all ML shortstops with .989 fielding percentage, 7th-best single season mark in baseball history...led all AL shortstops with .294 batting avg., marking 64-point improvement over 1991 mark (.230)...was 3rd-largest improvement in majors, behind Mark McGwire and Rob Deer...was placed on DL April 13 with sprained ligaments in left knee...following 6-game rehabilitation assignment at triple-A Calgary, was activated May 11...compiled 14-game hitting streak Aug. 11-28...played for Caracas of Venezuelan League over winter.1991Went 5-for-5 July 18 at Milwaukee, tying Seattle club record for most hits in game...hammered only HR of season Aug. 19 vs. California, his 1st long ball in 512 at-bats...hit at .312 clip (34-for-109) with RISP.1990Began year on DL after suffering sprained MCL in left knee...underwent 20-day rehab assignment to Calgary and double-A San Bernardino beginning May 3...recalled July 5 and homered at Cleveland in 1st game back...finished 3rd among AL shortstops in fielding.1989Made ML debut as Seattle's Opening Day starting shortstop April 3 at Oakland...singled off Athletics' Storm Davis April 6 for 1st big league hit...optioned to Calgary April 12, but played in just 7 games before being recalled April 23...hit 1st ML home run off Toronto's Jimmy Key June 23 in Kingdome.1988Began year at double-A Vermont, where he led all Eastern League shortstops with .959 fielding pct....earned All-Star status and was named 4th-best prospect in EL by Baseball America...also played triple-A debut, playing in 33 games for Calgary.1987Led single-A Salinas in runs (61), triples (8) and walks (57).1986Led Midwest League shortstops with .969 fielding pct. for single-A Wassau.1985Played for single-A Bellingham, clubbing 5 homers.1984Began professional career by hitting .315 over 15 games with single-A Butte in Pioneer League.